Is the Narcissist a Psychopath Reprobate?

Joseph Lucketta
Aug 13, 2025
5 min read

Introduction – When Psychology Meets Scripture

You won’t find the word narcissism in the King James Bible. Yet, if you read with discernment, you’ll find the narcissist described on nearly every page. From the proud Pharisee to the false prophet, from Cain’s coldness to Diotrephes’ love of preeminence, Scripture paints a clear portrait of those who exalt themselves at the expense of others.

Modern psychology has its own vocabulary for these people—Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD), and psychopathy. These terms help us identify behavioral patterns, but they do not tell the whole story. Science can describe the symptoms; Scripture diagnoses the heart.

The goal of this article is simple: to bring both worlds together—to show you where narcissism overlaps with psychopathy, how both align with the biblical concept of the reprobate, and how God calls His people to respond.

Why Narcissism Is So Hard to Pin Down

From a clinical perspective, narcissism isn’t as neat or predictable as we might think.

Temporary mimicry – Even emotionally healthy people can display narcissistic behaviors when stressed, insecure, or in survival mode.
Diagnostic ambiguity – The DSM-5 says a person must meet at least five traits to be diagnosed with NPD, but many disagree about which traits matter most and how to measure them.
Therapeutic hurdles – Narcissists rarely seek therapy voluntarily, and even when they do, meaningful change is rare.
Different origin stories – Some narcissists emerge from deep childhood trauma; others had stable homes but developed entitlement and arrogance through praise or success.
Superficial improvement – A narcissist may temporarily suppress harmful behaviors if it benefits them—but inevitably, they revert to their true patterns.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula observes, “The narcissist’s greatest need is validation. The moment they’re not being fed admiration, they will devalue the very people they once idealized.” This revolving cycle is part of what makes them so difficult to treat—or even to identify early on.

The Overlap Between Narcissism and Psychopathy

Narcissism exists on a spectrum—from healthy self-esteem to malignant narcissism to antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy.

Both narcissists and psychopaths manipulate, exploit, lack empathy, and resist correction. But there are key differences:

The narcissist can feel shame when their image is damaged.
The psychopath is largely immune to shame, motivated more by control and thrill than by validation.

Malignant narcissism blurs the line. This is the narcissist with antisocial traits—deceitful, aggressive, paranoid, and sometimes sadistic. Chuck DeGroat calls them “spiritual predators”—leaders who thrive on creating dependency and fear.

The danger for Christians is that malignant narcissists often look like faithful leaders. They may preach powerfully, quote Scripture fluently, and appear tireless in ministry—yet their real aim is to feed on admiration, control the narrative, and exploit those they’re meant to serve.

Scriptural Parallels – The Bible’s Profile of the Narcissist

The Bible may not say “narcissist,” but it gives us dozens of markers that match their behavior. In fact, when you read Jude, 2 Peter 2, and other passages, you see the traits of NPD, ASPD, and psychopathy laid bare.

“Great Swelling Words” – Jude 1:16

“These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.”

The phrase “great swelling words” speaks of exaggerated, puffed-up language—speech designed to impress, not to edify. In the pulpit, this can manifest as what some call “hard preaching”—not the Spirit-filled boldness of a prophet, but a performance meant to elevate the preacher. The goal is not conviction unto life, but control unto loyalty.

These individuals “have men’s persons in admiration because of advantage”—they cultivate relationships not to love, but to use.

False Teachers and Feigned Words – 2 Peter 2:1–3

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you… And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you…”

Feigned words—fabricated, polished speech designed to deceive—are the narcissist’s specialty. They “make merchandise of you” by treating your loyalty, service, and giving as currency. This is the essence of spiritual abuse: using God’s people for personal gain.

Kris Reece warns, “The Christian covert narcissist will quote Scripture, but is biblically illiterate… They know enough to twist it for control.”

The Reprobate Mind – Romans 1:28

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…”

The reprobate is one who has persistently resisted God until He gives them over. Modern psychology might call this a “seared conscience” (1 Timothy 4:2)—the inability to feel conviction or remorse. While not all narcissists are reprobate, the psychopath often fits this description: emotionally cold, resistant to truth, incapable of genuine repentance.

A Form of Godliness – 2 Timothy 3:1–5

“…having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

This describes the religious narcissist perfectly: they wear the mask of devotion but deny the transformative power of God’s love. They’ll preach holiness while excusing their own cruelty. They’ll speak of grace while withholding it from others.

Hatred of the Brethren – I John 2:9-11

“He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."

John goes on to describe just how grave this sin is: I John 3:14 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." John also tells us that eternal life does not abide in this person, nor the love of God. While the spiritual leader may tell you that they love you, these are meaningless words when the heart is corrupt. The narcissist's "love" only extends to the point of your usefulness to them.

Why This Matters for the Church

When leaders with narcissistic or psychopathic traits gain influence in the church, the damage is deep and lasting. They create cultures of fear, suppress dissent, and redefine loyalty to mean unquestioning agreement.

I have personally seen a pastor use the pulpit as a platform for personal vendettas—disguising them as “bold stands for truth.” In these moments, the connection to Jude’s “great swelling words” could not be clearer. The sermon was less about Christ and more about securing power.

The Christian Response

Scripture gives clear commands for dealing with such individuals:

Mark and Avoid
“Mark them which cause divisions and offences… and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17)When possible, remove yourself from their influence entirely.
Guard Your Heart
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)Protect your spiritual health as you would protect your physical body from poison.
Shake Off the Dust
“Whosoever shall not receive you… shake off the dust from your feet.” (Matthew 10:14)You are not called to endlessly reason with the unrepentant.
Trust God’s Justice
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)Your role is to stand firm in truth; God will handle the reckoning.
Cast out Fear
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (I John 4:18) Do not fear what the narcissistic leader will do to you, but cast out the fear they disseminate with true love for the brethren.

Conclusion – Clarity for Discernment

Narcissism is not the same as psychopathy, but malignant narcissism can mimic it closely. While science debates where one ends and the other begins, Scripture cuts straight to the root: the proud heart that refuses to love, submit, or repent.

We are called to discern these people not so we can label them, but so we can protect ourselves and the body of Christ. Some can be corrected. Others, Scripture says plainly, are to be avoided.